Wire-drawing apparatus



E 1,621309 March 15 1927 H. BLOUNT ET AL i WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Filed June 6, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l Egal.

John .Herz-Zand '7911,7-

l 2l kMarch 15,1927. H' BLOUNT ET AL y 6 309 WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Filed June 6, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /0 452i Ik 5 35 *345.39 56 57 V1,621,311 March 15,1927. H. BLOUNT ET AL 9 WIRE DRAWNG APPARATUS Filed June 6, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JOI r/on I ern/Und byAcfb/m.

Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

, UNiTED STATES l* 1,621,309 PATENT orifice.

AHARRY BLOUNT, F OAK PARK, AND JOHN WAYLAND HERNLUND, OF GLEN ELLYN,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNLORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

WIRE-DRAWIN G APPARATUS.

Appiication mea June e, 1922. serial No. 566,222.

This invention relates to wire drawing apparatus, and more particularly to a inachine for stringing and positioning upon a rod or wire a' series of dies preparatory to placing the rod or wire with the dies strung thereon in a wire drawing machine for drawing it down t'o its final size.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type whereby this Stringing operation may be accurately and readily performed and with a minimum use of floor space.

In accordance with the general features of this invention there is provided a rotatable and a stationary drum both mounted about a common horizontal aXis. The rotatable drum is adapted to pull the rod or wire through ay succession of dies individually. The stationary drum serves as a storage for the wire as the dies are successively positioned thereon and also as a gauge for spacing the dies on Ythe wire and is equipped with adjustable die stops to accommodate varying distances between dies. Means is provided for retaining the wire upon the stationary drum as each die is successively strung thereon. Clutch tripping means is also provided about which the wire is looped between the stationary drum and the die about to be positioned upon the wire, so that as the proper position of the die upon the wire is reached, the wire will be pulled tight on the stationary drinn and also on the clutch tripping means thereby operating the clutch tripping means to stop the rotatable drum. -Upon completion of the Stringing operation the wire with the dies accurately strung thereon may be readily removed from the machine and upon Stringing the wire drawing machine, eacli die will drop into its allotted po-V sition in the die holder.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a die stringving machine embodying the features of the invention Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectionupon the line 3 3 of Fig 2 with a portion in elevation;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 2 showing the clutch locking means in its unlocked position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section of oI 1e of the adjustable die Stops;

l F 6 is an' enlarged fragmentary view of 55 a portion o f Fig. lshowing the clutch locking means 1n its locked position; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail plan view of Fig. 1 illustrating the groove ormed in the drawing block for causing each succeed- 60 ing turn of wire to clear the gripper;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the rolls for pointing the end of the wire.

preparatory to `stringingthe dies thereon;

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary front elel 65.

vations of the machine showing several stages ofthe Stringing operation, the wire being shown in exaggerated size, and

Fig. 11' shows the wire with the drawing dies strung thereon in the form in which it is removed from the machine, the wire be.

ing shown in exaggerated size.

Draving mechanism. l

As shown in the drawings, the operating parts of the machine are carried upon a frame 10 provided with av base 11. Within the lower part lof the frame 10 is housed a driving motor (not shown) which is connected to a driving shaft 12 carrying al sprocket 80,

13. The sprocket 13 through a link chain 14 drives a sprocket 15 positioned at the upper part of the machine upon a. shaft 16, which extends inward and carries intermediate its ends a Worm 20 for driving a worm 8a the worm wheel 21 by a movement to the left 05 (as viewed in Figs. .2 and 3) of a yoke member 24 about its pivot 25 in a well-known manner.

Drawing block and gripper.

Secured to the forward end of the shaft 22 is a drum or drawing block 28 carrying asuitable gripper 29 mounted in a.. pocket oi' depression 30 formed at the forward end and about the periphery thereof. A spiral semi-circular groove 27, Figs. 1 and 7, of suitable width is cut in the drawing block 28, starting at the gripper and continuing for such a distance on a helix that will allow for the succeeding turns of wire clearing the gripper 29 as is usual in Stringing machines. The gripper 29 is pivoted at 31 and in the rotation of the drawing block 28 it is limited in its movement about its pivot by stop pins 32 and' 33 carried by the block 28.v Mounted upon the frame 10 and about is a wire storage and die spacing gauge drum 36 of the same diameter as the drawing block 28. The drum 36 is provided with a dangle 37 which is secured to the frame 10, and formed in the flange is a circular IT-shaped slot 38.

Wire storage drum.

The storage drum is provided with a suitable number of die stops 39, 39 seven of such stops being illustrated in the drawing. The die stops 39, 39 each comprise a supporting member 40, Fig. 5, adapted to be adjust-ably secured and positioned around thefilange 37 of the drum 36 by a screw 41 threaded into a nut 42 slidably mounted in the T- shaped slot 38. Pivotally mounted upon the outer end of the supporting member 40 is a-curved arm 43 which, when in use, projects forward and inward into engagement with the periphery of the drum 36, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The free end of the arm is bifurcated, as indicated at 44, to allow the wire from the'die being held thereby to pass therethrough and varound thedrum 36. The arm 43 is normally adapted gri to be held away from .the periphery of the drum 36, as clearly indicated in Figs; 3 and 5 in dotted outline, by a coil spring 43 suit ably mounted about the pivot of the arm 43Y with one end of the spring` resting" against the arm 43 and the other end against the flange 37. In its Iormal position a lug 41 formed on the arm 43 rests against the :flange 37 thereb limiting the movement of the arm 43 ina clhckwise direction. `When the arm 43 is to be used it is turned upon its pivot from the position indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 3 toward the axis of the drum 36 against the action of the spring 43 to the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 where it is locked from springing back by a trigger 45 provided with an o erating handle 45. The trigger 45 is provi "ed with a semi-circular surface 46 and the arm 43 with a cooperating similarly shaped s'urtace 44', and when the surfaces 44 and 46 are in contact as indicated in Fig. 5 the arm 43 is locked from returning to its normal position. The trigger is turned by the operator in a counter clockwise direction by the handle 45 after moving the arm 43 into engagement with the periphery of the drum 36 whereupon the arm 43 is locked imposition due to the cooperating surfaces on the arm 43 and trigger 45. When it is desired to release the arm 43 from the trigger 45 to allow the the shaft 22 menace arm 43 to'return to its normal position, the handle 45 is moved clockwisefrom the position shown in full lines in Figs. 3 and 5 to the position indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 5, whereupon the surface 46 thereon is moved away from the surface 44" upon the handlel 43 and the'spring 43 then functions to move the arm 43 about its pivotlto the dotted outline position as shown in Figs. 3 `and 5.

Pivotally secured to a bracket 48 secured to the face ot the frame 10 and disposed parallel with the die stops 39, 39 is a spring actuated arm 49, Fig. 3. normally bearing againstthe periphery of the drum 36 adjacent its forward end. rl`he arm 49 serves to hold the wire stored on the drum 36 from creeping onto the drawing block 28 during operation of the latter. A spring 5() holds the arm 49 against the drum 36. l

A suitable brake 51 mounted upon the kdrawing block 28 and acting against the inner periphery of the, stationary drum 36, Fig. 3, functions to check the rotation of the drawing block when the clutch 23 is disengaged. 'llhe action of the brake 51 is vsuciently drawing block by the operator when turning the block at the end of each Stringing operation to bring the gripperl 29 to its4 starting position, as shown in Fig. 1. For turning the drawing block by hand a handle 52is provided which is mounted on the wire pper.

A bracket 54 supports a die holder 55 which is adapted to swing about a pivot 56, Figs. 1 and ing several coils distributed across block 28.

A. foot lever 57 (shown depressed) is adapted upon being depressed to actuate the clutch 23 for starting and stopping the drawing block 28. A spring 58, Fig. 2, acting on-a system of levers connecting the foot lever 57 and the yoke member 24 functions to normally hold the clutch 23 from engagement with the Worm wheel 21. Carried upon a stud 59 fixed to the front tace of the frame 10 is a clutch tripping lever 62 provided with an upwardly projecting arm 63. ll`n the operation of the machine. to be described' later, the lever 62 is moved about its pivot stud 59 and toward the drum 36 to stop the operation of the drawing block 28. An arm 64, Fig. 1, on the lever 62 is secured by a pin and slot' connection to a link member 65 provided intermediate` its end with a cam face 68, Fig. 4. The lower end of link 65 is connected to a foot'lever 69 as ring 70 being connected to the upper end o the said link to hold it in its normal position, as indicated 'in the drawings. Passing through a vertically disposed slot of wire as required to be the face of the drawing 71 formed in the link 65 and through thev light to allow a rotation of the g 7 on a radius suitable for allow- W z're pointing mechanism.

A suitable mechanism for pointing the end ot' the wire to be strung with dies as needed is carried on the frame l0 and is indicated at. 81. The pointing mechanism consists of a series of pairs of grooved parallel steel rolls 82, 82, Figs. 1 and 8. 'Each pair vof rolls 82, 82 is provided with a groove 79 in its periphery, ,which is of greater depth at one portion than the otheras indicated at 80. Each pair of rolls is provided with a groove of different depth as clearly indicated in Fig. 1 to provide for gradually reducing the size of the wire in the pointing operation. When the machine is in operation the rolls are continuously operated-from the shaft 16 by suitable gearing (not shown) in the direction indicated by the arrows on Fig. 8. The operator, in using the pointing rolls, inserts a suitable length of the wire to be pointed between4 -the selected pair of rolls in a direction opposite to the rotation thereof, as shown in Fig. 8, and it the deep grooves 80 are positioned together as indicated'in Fig. 8, the Wire will enter therebetween and when the grooves of lesser depth come together theywvill com- (ill press the wire and cause it to move out from between the rolls xn a reduced or pointed condition.

@pe/ration'.

lon the wire, it is placed in the die holder with the end of the wire projecting through the die far enough to be gripped by t-he gripper 29 mounted on the drawing block 28.*Fig. 1. At this time the dievstops 39, 39 are in the position indicated in dotted outline in Figs.

3 andv 5. The foot treadle 57 is then clepressed from the dotted line position shownv link 72 to the'right, as viewed in Fig. 4, thereby releasing the link from the pin 74 which- .is being held by the top of the cam face 68, as shown in Fig. 4. The link 65 is moved upl by the action of the spring and the cam face rides up with it and 'behind the pin*74,as shown in Fig. 2, thereby causing the lever76 to be rocked to throw in the clutch 23 and holding it in engagement. The drawing block now starts to revolve and with it the gripper 29, which pulls the rod or wire through the die 85 held in the die holder 55 until ay specified predetermined number of turns of wire have been wound' on the drawing block 28,` Fig. 7, which will draw sufii- `cient Wire through the die to provide for the succeeding reductionsand proper locations of the other diesthereon, as shown in Fig. 11. The l:t'oot treadle 69 is depressed which moves the cam face 68 down to allow the link 72 to move to the left under the action of the spring 58, thereby disengaging the clutch 23 and stopping the drawing block. The wire wound on`the drawing-block is removed by the operator and the die 85 strung thereon is placed behind the proper. stop 39, as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2, and' in full lines in Fig. 9, the stop 39 having been set in a redetermined positionabout the periphery o the drum 36 as determined by the indices 100 on the flange 37. The arm 43 of the stop 39 with the die 85 therebehind is now moved downward by the operator to engage the `pe- .riphery of the drum 36 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

After placingthe die 85 behind the proper stop, a specified number of turns of the drawn wire are taken around the drum 36 by hand, Fig.` 9, depending upon the distance to be maintained between the die 85 just strung and the following die' .95, the wire being held on the drum 36 by the arm 49, and thereafter the wire is looped behind the arm 63 on the clutch tripping lever 62 as clearly shown in Fig. 9, the operator holding the coils 101'of the unstrung wire in his hand. The end 83 of the wire is pointed again, 1f necessary, and a second 'die 95 positioned thereon and placed in the holder 55 with the endl of the wire gripped by the grlpper on the drawing block. The clutch 1s again engaged and the balance ofthe wire is, pulled through the second die until all the slack is taken up and the wire becomes tight on the drum 36 with the second die properly positioned on the wire with respect to the first die. Atlthis instant the clutch is disengaged by the pull on the arm 63 after all the slack in the wire is taken up. The movement of the arm 63 causes the disengagement of the clutch by moving the link 65 downward as is done by a depression of the foot treadle 69. After the second die 95 is properly positioned on the wire the handle 45 of the stop holding vthe first die 85 is ,operated land the arm 43 will move away from the periphery of the drum 36, as eX- plai'ned before, thereby permitting the coil of wire on the drum. 36 and the first die positioned thereon to be slipped backward on the drinn to be stored until all the dies are positioned on the wire. The second die 95 is now removed from the holder and positioned behind its corresponding stop 39, Fig. 10, after moving its arm 43 down against the periphery of the drum 36, and a specified number of turns of the drawn wire on the block 28 is slid back off the Same and onto the storage -drum 36, which operation is facilitated due to the fact that the block Q8 and drum 36 are ofthe same diameter and in end to end engagement. The wire is then loopedl behind the arm 63 of the tripping lever 62..V v

The end 83 of the wire is pointed again if necessary and the third die 96, fourth die 97, etc., etc., are positioned thereon and placed in the holder and thereafter the same procedure is followed as has been described above'until the proper number of dieswhich are to be used in reducing a given size rod or wire to a wire of required` diameter,

' been accurately ,positioned'upon the wire.

y The' arm 49 is given a shape at the end which bears on the drum to allow the `wire as it is coiled around the drum to slip under the. arm against the action of its ,spring and thereafter to be held and prevented from creeping onto the drawing block.

Upon moving the arm 49 awayfromthe drum the strung wire may be removed from the drum 36,y and upon wrapping the wire around the capstans on the wire drawing machine the dies will drop into their proper holders.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, a'drawing block, and a` stationary wire storage drum positioned adjacent said drawing block whereby the wire may be trans-v ferred from and stored in close association with said drawing block as each die is strung upon the wire.

2,. In a machine for stringing'dies upon wire, a drawing block, and a stationary wire storage means positioned about the axis of said drawing block whereby the wire may be transferred from and-stored in close association with said drawing blockas each die is strung upon the wire.

3. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, drawingnieans, and a stationary wire storage means positioned at the rear of said drawing means whereby the wire may be transferred from and stored in close association with said drawing means as each die is strung upontlie wire.

4. In a machinefor lStringing dies uponl wire, a drawing block, and a stationary wire storage means positioned at the rear of said have wire drawing block in axial alinement therewith whereby the wire may be transferred from and stored in close association with said drawing block as each die is strung upon the wire. i

5. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, a drawing block, and a stationary storage' drum so positioned that its entire surface isin peripheral alineinent therewith whereby the wire may be transferred from and stored in close association with said drawing block as each die is strung upon the wire.

6. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, a drawing block, and a stationary wire Storage drum positioned at the rear of said drawiugbloek and in peripheral and axial alinement therewith whereby the wire may be transferred from and stored in close association with said drawing block as each die is Fstrung upon the wire.

7. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, a rotatable drawing block, a Wire storage device positioned at the rear thereof, and means associated with said device for preventing the wire from creeping onto the drawing block during operation thereof.

8. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, a rotatable drawing block, a wire Storage device positioned at the rear of the drawing block in axial alineinent therewith, and means associated with Said device for preventing the wire 'from creeping onto the drawing block during the operation thereof. 9. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, drawing means, a wire storage device positioned ad] acent said drawing block, and a pivotal spring pressed wire holding arm in engagement with said storage device'for preventing the wire from creeping onto the drawing block diirin operation thereof.

10. In a machine or Stringing dies upon wire, drawing means, and a gauge device about which the Wire is coiled a specified number of times after each die is strung for spacing the following die on the wire, Said deice and drawing means positioned end to en I 11. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, drawing means, and a gauge drum about which the wire is coiled a specified number of times after each die is strung for spacing the following die on the wire, drum being provided with indices.

12. In a machine for Stringing dies upon Yire, a drawing block, a stationary drum about which the wire is coiled a specified' associated with said device each` adapted to `said hold one of the dies during the stringing of the followingdic.

14:. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, drawing means, a wire storage dev lce positioned adjacent thereto, and a' plurallty of adjustable die stops mounted adjacent the periphery of said device each adapted to hold one of the dies during the Stringing of the following die.`

15. In a machine for s tringing dies upon wire, a rotatable dra-wing block, a stationary wire storage drum positioned adjacent thereto, and a plurality of adJustable die stops mounted about the periphery of said drum each adapted to hold one of the dies during the Stringing of the following die, said storage drum having a plurality of indices for indicating the positions at which the adjustable die stops may be set.

16. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, a power driven drawing block, .a clutch therefor, a wire storage device pos1- tioned at the rear of said block, die holding means associated with said device and clutch releasing means about which the wire is looped between said block and die holding means and controlled by the tightening of the wire upon the device whereby the drawing block is stopped and when the die being strung is properly positioned upon the wire.

17. In' a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, power driven drawing means, a wire storage device positioned at the rear of said drawing means, means for stopping the operation of said drawing means, said stopping means including an element about whih the wire is looped between the drawing means and the storage device and controlled by the tightening of the wire to stop the drawing means when the die being strung is properly positioned upon the wire.

18. In a machine for Stringing dies upon wire, a power driven drawing block, a clutch therefor, Vthe drawing block and about which the wire .is coiled a specified number of times after each die is strung for spacing the yfollowing die upon the wire, a plurality of die stops mounted about the periphery of said drum each adapted to hold one of the dies during the Stringing of the following die, y' and means associated with the wire between the drawing block and die stops and operable upon the tightening of the wire on thedrum to 'cause the release of the clutch for stopping the drawing block.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe out` names this 31st day of May, A. D. 1922.

HARRY BLOUN T. JOHN WAYLAND HERNLUN D.

a storage drum mounted adjacent 

